Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson has provided a fresh update on the future of St James’ Park.
Ever since the PIF takeover, there has been talk of leaving St James’ Park and a new stadium being built.
An official update from the club was expected in the summer of 2025, but that did not arrive. Newcastle United’s stadium plans were delayed, with months of silence coming next.
That has now changed, with Toon CEO David Hopkinson stating at a fan event on Monday that a decision over the stadium was not close to being made. While some Newcastle fans appreciated Hopkinson’s honesty, others were frustrated about the lack of progress.
Now the Newcastle United chief has spoken more about the stadium situation, offering fans a little bit more clarity.
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Newcastle United are staying at St James’ Park for ‘years to come’
For the first time since his arrival at St James’ Park, Hopkinson has addressed the media.
In quotes reported by the Telegraph, he addressed the Newcastle United stadium situation, admitting that the club are not going to be leaving their current home for a few years at least.
“I want to be really clear on this,” he said.
“We literally have not taken a decision on what we’re going to do. We’re modelling a multitude of different scenarios.
“But even if we were to make a decision tomorrow, which we’re not going to do, it still takes years of permits, planning, finance, construction, etc… recognising that we are going to be at St James’ Park, in pretty much its current format, for years to come is important.”
Newcastle United fans should welcome St James’ Park transparency
The fate of St James’ Park is a huge topic of debate for supporters. You can make strong cases for both sides of the argument.
Building a new stadium will allow the club to seismically increase its revenue, which is pivotal if Newcastle United are to reach the top under PIF.
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It would also allow a lot more fans to watch the team, with St James’ Park sold out for every home game nowadays.
However, it would also be a breakaway from tradition. It is one of English football’s most iconic stadiums, while the atmosphere is unrivalled when the Toon Army are in full voice. You risk losing that by building a new stadium.
There are also the complications of location and finance, which is why the club are not going to rush into a decision. Hopkinson is not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes, making it abundantly clear that St James’ Park will remain Newcastle United’s home for the coming years.
While that might not be what some fans want to hear, it is the kind of transparency that they have always craved.
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